More girls with hats

Two years ago (September 24, 2024), I published a blog about a study and a painting of Marcelin's on the topic of a Harlem girl. At the time, I was aware that there was a third image called "Harlem Girl With Blue Hat" that was painted around 1958 according to a letter, addressed to Marcelin, from James Johnson Sweeney at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York (please see my earlier blog for additional details). According to Marcelin's own records, this painting is dated 1961 so, Marcelin presumably must have made some adjustments to the original which were completed in 1961. That or he made an mistake in his records. This painting was sold to a New York patron of Marcelin's who bought a large number of his paintings in the 1950s and 60s. Roseline's nieces have been scanning Marcelin's 35 mm slides of many of his paintings; one being, "Harlem Girl With Blue Hat" (Fig. 1). This painting is oil on canvas and is quite different from Marcelin's 1958 study and his 2001 painting, "Harlem Girl Avec Blanc Chapeau". Unfortunately, the slide is old and the colours may not accurately represent those of the actual painting.

Figure 1. Harlem Girl With Blue Hat. 1961. Oil on canvas. 114.3 X 144.8 cm / 45 X 57 inches.